The Akita dog breed is a big, strong dog with a proud, commanding presence. In feudal Japan, they protected nobility and monarchy. Along with tracking and hunting deer, these dogs occasionally hunted wild boar and black bears.
The Akita does not back down from difficulties and does not readily become frightened. They are hence fearless and devoted protectors of their families. But when trained and socialised correctly, they can also be loving, obedient, and humorous dogs.
If you bring an Akita home, expect them to shed a lot. Furthermore, you might have to wipe some drool from their face. Owners should undoubtedly be ready for some cleanup.
They also tend to be stubborn and have low affection for strangers. Although they may be helpful qualities of a watchdog. However, they will need an expert trainer if they interact with other animals or people. Novice owners should beware.
History Of The Akita Dog Breed
The northern Japanese province of Akita is where the Akita came from, hence their name. The Akita breed has been around since the 1600s when they used it for hunting huge animals. At the same time, they also protect the Japanese monarchy.
More Akitas were brought back to the United States by American servicemen who served in Japan after World War II.
Beginning in 1956, Thomas Boyd was responsible for creating the first Akita stud to produce puppies in the United States. Many people respected the American Akita because it finally developed into a more robust dog than the Japanese Akita.
The Akita Dog: An Overview
| Breed Group | utility dog group |
| Height | 58 – 70 cm |
| Weight | 23 – 39 kg |
| Coat | double coat |
| Coat Colour | black, white, chocolate, brindle |
| Temperament | bold, willful, intelligent, courageous, alert |
| Lifespan | 10 – 12 years |
Size
Males weigh 85 to 130 pounds and stand 26 to 28 inches tall. Females weigh 70 to 110 pounds and stand 24 to 26 inches tall.
Personality
The Akita is a brave and independent dog who is naturally suspicious of strangers yet fiercely devoted to its family. Moreso, they possess boldness, intelligence, and alertness. They tend to attack other dogs, especially those of their own sex. They work best in homes with only one dog.
Most Akitas are playful and loving with family. They desire to participate in daily activities and appreciate having their family around.
They enjoy moving toys and household items about and are verbally aggressive. Contrary to popular opinion, they do occasionally bark when they feel the need. They may also be noisy and are known to groan and grumble.
The Akita’s powerful nature can be stressful and make you weary, so take care. Akitas are not the right breed of dogs for inexperienced or fearful owners. Simply because they require a master who can train them with love and firmness.
For this energetic breed, activity is crucial; they need a lot of movement to prevent boredom and harmful behaviour.
Health Issues Common With The Akita Dog Breed
Akitas are typically in good health, although, like all dog breeds, they are susceptible to some ailments and disorders.
Hip Dysplasia
This genetic disorder causes the thighbone to not fit tightly into the hip joint. Dogs can exhibit lameness and pain in one or both hind legs, although not all do.
Bloat
This condition, also known as gastric dilatation-volvulus, is a fatal illness affecting big, deep-chested dogs like Akitas. They should avoid eating one large meal daily, eat quickly, drink lots of water, and engage in strenuous activity afterwards. Bloat happens when the stomach twists after becoming inflated with gas or air.
The dog cannot belch or vomit to get rid of the extra air in their stomach, which interferes with the normal blood flow to the heart.
Hypothyroidism
It affects the thyroid gland. Other factors, such as epilepsy, obesity, and other skin diseases, can also cause hypothyroidism. You can use diet and medicine to treat it.
Progressive retina atrophy
This condition causes the retina to deteriorate gradually. Affected dogs initially develop night blindness; as the illness worsens, they lose their daytime vision. Many affected canines adjust to their diminished or impaired vision well as long as their environment doesn’t change.
Sebaceous adenitis (SA)
This is a significant issue in Akitas. This genetic disorder is challenging to identify and sometimes confused with hypothyroidism, allergies, or other illnesses.
When a dog develops SA, the sebaceous glands in its skin swell and finally die of unidentified causes. These glands typically produce sebum, a fatty fluid that helps keep the skin from drying out.
Care For The Akita Dog Breed
The Akita thrive and are happiest when they live indoors with their families. Although not energetic, this breed does require daily activity.
For an Akita, 30 to 60 minutes of exercise each day is plenty; their favourite activities include brisk walks, jogging, and playing in the yard. Given Akita’s propensity for dog aggression, trips to dog parks are probably not brilliant.
A diverse schedule is recommended for this breed because of its great intelligence. Akita boredom is the last thing you need, and this causes behavioural issues like hostility, chewing, digging, and barking.
Please don’t leave the Akita alone for extended periods and include them in family activities.
Feeding An Akita
Three to five cups of high-quality dry food daily is the best quantity for this breed. Their size, age, build, metabolism, and degree of activity affect the amount of food your adult dog consumes.
Like people, each dog is unique; thus, they don’t all require the same amount of food.
The kind of dog food you purchase matters; the better the food, the more effectively it will nourish your dog, and the less you need to shake into the bowl. Consult your veterinarian about creating a diet suitable for your dog.
Coat Color And Grooming The Akita Dog
The American Akita comes in various hues and colour combinations, including brindle, black, white, chocolate, and colour and white varieties. The Akita has a double coat, a short topcoat and a thick, fluffy undercoat.
Grooming the Akita is often not too challenging. However, the Akita sheds a lot, so if you choose this breed, regular vacuuming will become part of your daily routine.
You can find your pet’s fur in meals, dishes, clothing, furniture, and carpets in the form of numerous dust bunnies.
Two or three times a year, there are heavier sheds. Weekly brushing maintains the Akita’s luxurious coat healthy and reduces the amount of fur in your home.
Despite their propensity for self-grooming, the Akita also require bathing every three months. Naturally, it’s acceptable for your dog to roll in mud or other unpleasant substances more frequently.
Once a week, check the ears for dirt, redness, or an odour that can be an infection. It would be best to cut their nails once a month. To avoid issues, clean your ears once a week using a cotton ball moistened with a mild, pH-balanced ear cleaner.
Children And Other Pets
Children and dogs should never be left alone together, and this is especially true for this breed. An Akita is a child’s best friend and guardian; nevertheless, if abused, an Akita can become a liability and potentially put your child’s life at risk.
It is crucial to teach kids how to treat pets with kindness and respect at all times. Even with well-trained canines, play between children and dogs should always be under adult supervision.
The Akita is appropriate for households with older kids. However, they should often reside in a one-pet family since, if not properly educated. They can be violent against other dogs and chase other animals.
